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Phalcon VS Zend

Compare Phalcon VS Zend and see what are their differences

Phalcon logo Phalcon

Web framework delivered as a C-extension for PHP

Zend logo Zend

Running PHP web servers? Zend by Perforce delivers a leading enterprise PHP platform, long-term PHP support that extends beyond community offerings, PHP training and certification, and more.
  • Phalcon Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-17
  • Zend Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-05-16

Phalcon features and specs

  • Performance
    Phalcon is known for its exceptional performance because it is implemented as a C extension, which runs at the speed of C while still providing high-level abstractions.
  • Low Overhead
    Due to its architecture and the fact that it is loaded into memory as a PHP extension, Phalcon has low memory and CPU usage. This makes it highly efficient for resource-intensive applications.
  • Rich Feature Set
    Phalcon comes with a comprehensive set of features and components, including ORM, template engine, request/response handling, and more, which can help accelerate development.
  • Good Documentation
    Phalcon has extensive documentation and a wide range of tutorials that can help developers get started quickly and address common tasks more easily.
  • Security
    Phalcon provides built-in security features such as CSRF protection and SQL injection prevention, which helps in building secure applications.

Possible disadvantages of Phalcon

  • Learning Curve
    Being implemented as a C extension means developers need to familiarize themselves not only with the framework itself but also with how PHP extensions work, which can be steep for beginners.
  • Hosting Requirements
    Phalcon requires specific PHP extension installation on the server, which can be complicated on shared hosting environments or platforms where you don't have full control over the server configuration.
  • Community Size
    Though Phalcon is growing, its community is not as large as some of the more established PHP frameworks like Laravel or Symfony, potentially leading to fewer libraries and third-party plugins.
  • Limited Debugging Tools
    Since Phalcon operates at a lower level compared to other PHP frameworks, some of the standard PHP debugging tools may not work seamlessly, which might complicate the debugging process.
  • Less Flexibility in Development Environment
    Phalcon's reliance on low-level code might require specific setups for development environments, making it less flexible when working across different systems.

Zend features and specs

  • Robust Framework
    Zend offers a powerful, scalable, and extendable framework for building complex PHP applications, making it suitable for enterprise-level projects.
  • Modular Architecture
    Zend Framework uses a modular design allowing developers to use components standalone, making it flexible and customizable.
  • Enterprise Support
    Zend provides professional support and consulting services, making it a reliable choice for businesses that require dedicated support.
  • Comprehensive Documentation
    Zend offers extensive documentation, which aids developers in understanding and utilizing the framework effectively.
  • Community and Commercial Extensions
    There is a variety of extensions, both community-developed and commercial, available to enhance Zend Framework's capabilities.

Possible disadvantages of Zend

  • Steep Learning Curve
    Zend Framework has a complex architecture, which can be challenging for beginners to learn and master.
  • Resource Intensive
    Zend can be resource-heavy, which may impact the performance of applications, particularly those running on shared hosting environments.
  • Potential Overhead
    The framework's comprehensive feature set might introduce unnecessary overhead for smaller projects, making it less efficient for simple applications.
  • Infrequent Updates
    Compared to some modern frameworks, Zend may have less frequent updates and enhancements, possibly leading to outdated components.
  • Complex Deployment
    Deploying applications built with Zend Framework can be complex and might require more advanced server configuration.

Phalcon videos

Setting up Phalcon PHP framework for the first time and Impressions

More videos:

  • Review - Thunder Kellie and Phalcon talk about "Kevin Terry and more...." Part 1

Zend videos

LOONIE | BREAK IT DOWN: Rap Battle Review E12 | AHON 10: ZEND LUKE vs GL

More videos:

  • Review - Anygma Machine - Dosage vs Zend Luke Review

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Phalcon and Zend)
Web Frameworks
66 66%
34% 34
PHP Framework
59 59%
41% 41
PHP MVC Framework
58 58%
42% 42
Backend Development
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Phalcon and Zend

Phalcon Reviews

Top 5 Laravel Alternatives
One further thing that makes Phalcon stand out is that it was the first framework to use object-relational mapping (ORM) written in C. Zephir, a high-level programming language, which makes Phalcon incredibly adaptable. However, Phalcon also makes it possible to create PHP apps without learning C.
The Most Popular PHP Frameworks to Use in 2021
As Phalcon is loosely coupled, you can create your own directory structure. Phalcon’s code does not live in the project directory, making the code lightweight.
Source: kinsta.com
Top 9 PHP Frameworks For Web Development In 2021
You have Phalcon query language for writing queries, Phalcon transactions to ensure data integrity.
The 10 Best PHP Frameworks To Use in 2021
One fun fact about Phalcon is that the framework was written in C and it is in some ways a C-extension. However, being a PHP framework you do not need to use C in order to use Phalcon.
Source: trio.dev
Top 4 PHP Frameworks to use in 2019
Unlike other frameworks, Phalcon built on C and C++ coding. In its feature list, Phalcon has a universal autoloader, caching, security, asset management, translation, and much more. This framework uses low levels of architecture, which reduces overheating, typical of MVC-based apps.

Zend Reviews

We have no reviews of Zend yet.
Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Phalcon seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 7 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Phalcon mentions (7)

  • Top 12 PHP Frameworks For Web Development in 2024
    Phalcon is open-source with 10.7k stars and 2k+ forks on GitHub. It is a full-stack framework for PHP that is characterized by high performance and low resource consumption. It is written or implemented as a C-extension or in C, which is integrated into PHP to improve performance. It has a user-friendly interface that simplifies PHP development and enhances the developer experience. - Source: dev.to / about 1 year ago
  • Laravel, symfony or wordpress. What to choose
    There's also one more player in the scope, but, I don't know how much jobs can You find with. It is called Phalcon framework. It is delivered as C extension and really, in terms of performance, no other thing can compare with, as it is loaded together with PHP it self. Once installed, You just use it. There are few similar like Phalcon, but Phalcon is already well known and has its community and support. -... Source: almost 2 years ago
  • In your opinion, which existing PHP framework can become as popular as Symphony or Laravel?
    People should give Phalcon a try. - https://phalcon.io/en-us. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Any suggestions for lighter frameworks than Laravel?
    Not the lightest, but one of (if not) the fastest. - https://phalcon.io/en-us. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Recommend me a fast and reliable web framework
    How about reconsider additional option 5 ? Something like this -> https://phalcon.io/en-us. Source: over 2 years ago
View more

Zend mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Zend yet. Tracking of Zend recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Phalcon and Zend, you can also consider the following products

Laravel - A PHP Framework For Web Artisans

CodeIgniter - A Fully Baked PHP Framework

Symfony - A PHP full-stack web framework

CakePHP - The Rapid Development Framework for PHP

Yii Framework - Yii is a high-performance component-based PHP framework best for Web 2.0 development.

Slim Framework - Slim is a PHP micro framework that helps you quickly write simple yet powerful web applications and APIs.